Uber expands to New Hanover, Brunswick beach towns for Memorial Day weekend

Uber, the nationwide driver service, is expanding its local coverage in the Wilmington area to include Brunswick County and New Hanover County beach towns.

Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, riders in Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Oak Island can request an Uber ride via its mobile app. Launched in 2009, Uber’s expansion to area beach towns includes more than 20 East Coast beach destinations, according to the company’s website.

“Uber is a mobile app that connects riders with the closest available driver,” a company spokesperson said in a news release. “It’s a seamless, cashless and convenient way to move around town. UberX is Uber’s low-cost, ride-sharing option, and generally costs less than a local taxi — in many of the areas described here, about 19 percent less.”